WEEK 1
Atlanta Falcons
Thursday, 8:20pm NBC
The opponent doesn’t really matter here, the Birds aren’t about to lose on the night they unveil the Super Bowl banner in the Linc—not a chance. If Matt Ryan couldn’t hear anything when he played here in the playoffs I seriously doubt he’ll be able to hear anything on this night.
Oh, and I do expect a healthy Carson Wentz for Week 1.
WIN(1-0)
WEEK 2
@Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Sunday, 1pm FOX
When I first saw the list of opponents for the Eagles I thought Tampa Bay might be a tough game on the road. However, coming off of extra rest so early in the season I don’t expect that to result in a loss.
WIN(2-0)
WEEK 3
Indianapolis Colts
Sunday, 1pm FOX
I’m penciling this game in as a win. As if there wasn’t so much uncertainty surrounding Luck, their team doesn’t have enough talent around him to compete with the Birds.
WIN(3-0)
WEEK 4
@Tennessee Titans
Sunday, 1pm FOX
This may be an early season loss nobody sees coming. Mariota continues to improve year in and year out and I expect a similar step forward in 2018. With the Birds coming off three straight wins and a matchup with Minnesota coming up I would normally call this a ‘trap’ game, but I don’t believe the Birds and Doug Pederson are susceptible to that sort of thing. I’ll take the Birds in OT on the road.
WIN(4-0)
WEEK 5
Minnesota Vikings
Sunday, 4:25pm FOX
This might be a popular pick for a “revenge” loss but I think it’s the first game where the Birds are really forced to test their limits and that’ll bring out their best. People will talk about Kirk Cousins familiarity but I don’t think that will matter as Philly uses this win to cement their status as top dog in the NFC.
WIN(5-0)
WEEK 6
@New York Giants
Thursday, 8:20pm FOX
The Giants are another team that we will know a lot more about following the draft, but as of now we can assume they’ll be somewhere between “full of talent” and “still trying to figure it out.” I have the Birds splitting with the G-men. With this meeting coming on the road just four days after a hard fought victory over the Vikings, it has the makings of a letdown game.
LOSS(5-1)
WEEK 7
Carolina Panthers
Sunday, 1pm FOX
Carolina isn’t buttoned up enough offensively to come into Philly and effectively move the ball. They may have a defense that can slow down Wentz at times but I wouldn’t count on that being anywhere near enough. Coming off the extended rest from TNF, I would expect a huge bounce back effort against the Panthers at home.
WIN(6-1)
WEEK 8
@Jacksonville Jaguars
Sunday, 9:30am NFLNetwork
Jacksonville and owner Shad Khan have successfully turned London into a second home and I think the Birds will feel that when they travel there in week 8. The Jaguars could have easily been in the Super Bowl last season and will surely have the roster to get there in 2018—regardless of who’s under center.
LOSS(6-2)
WEEK 9
—–BYE——
WEEK 10
Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, 8:20pm NBC
We’re obviously far from the start of the NFL season but it’s hard to see any scenario where Dallas is competing in the NFC East. The offensive line and Ezekiel Elliot bouncing back is just about the only hope this team has of avoiding the dumpster fire that they were last season.
It’ll be hard for any team to come into Philly and pick up a win next season, and it certainly won’t be Dallas.
WIN(7-2)
WEEK 11
@New Orleans Saints
Sunday, 1pm FOX
The Superdome is fairly comparable to the Linc when it’s rocking, and I anticipate that it will be when these teams matchup. The Saints should quietly be a favorite in the NFC this season, and should have a chip on their shoulder from the way things ended last year. I think the Birds lose this game on the road, and Alvin Kamara, in particular, will be the first running back to give the Schwartz’ defense problems since 2016.
LOSS(7-3)
WEEK 12
New York Giants
Sunday, 1pm FOX
The Giants simply don’t win at Lincoln Financial Field. The Birds will get revenge from the early season loss and also rebound from the previous week loss in New Orleans.
WIN(8-3)
WEEK 13
Washington Redskins
Monday, 8:15pm ESPN
I’ll take the Birds to string together back to back wins here for the first time since the 5 game win streak I have them opening the season with. I think I’m in the minority with my fandom of Alex Smith, but I don’t think Washington will be talented enough to beat an Eagles team eager to put it all together late in the season.
WIN(9-3)
WEEK 14
@Dallas Cowboys
Sunday, 4:25pm FOX
Another win in Jerry World, F*** Dallas.
WIN(10-3)
WEEK 15
@Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, 8:20pm NBC
Much like the Vikings game, this will be billed as a preview of the NFC Championship game, and will likely be a presumed “rivalry” for as long as the Wentz/Goff & (to a lesser degree) Pederson/McVay dynamic exists. This is my pick for the NFC Championship game and there’s a good chance that home-field advantage in the NFC is at stake. I think the Birds are able to go on the road and find a way to win.
WIN(11-3)
WEEK 16
Houston Texans
Sunday, 1pm CBS
I think this the one home game that the Eagles will drop all season. If there’s two things you need to have in order to come to the Linc and win it’s a quarterback (preferably one who can evade our pass rush) and a stoudt defense. The Texans have both of those things. Deshaun Watson was electric at times last season and I think he’ll be up to the task when he comes to Philly. It’s hard not to predict an 8-0 season at the Linc, but history says that won’t happen.
LOSS(11-4)
WEEK 17
@Washington Redskins
Sunday, 1pm FOX
At 11 hypothetical wins, the Eagles would probably need to win this game in order to secure home-field advantage, unlike last season when they could rest their starters in week 17. At this point the opponent doesn’t matter as much. What’s at stake—home field advantage and a first round bye—will be more than enough to keep the Eagles from having a letdown performance in Washington.
WIN(12-4)